Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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MODULAR WALL STUD BRACE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to structural reinforcement in general and in
particular to reinforcing adjacent wall studs to each other.
2. Description of Related Art
In the field of construction, it is often desirable to make a structure as
strong
as possible. The strength of a building is desirable for the purposes of load
bearing ability as well as resistance to outside loads such as earthquakes,
wind and other environmental loading.
Building construction typically includes a plurality of elongate members
connected each other to form walls, ceilings, floor and the like. In the case
of
walls, such elongate wall members are often referred to as studs while in
ceilings and roofs, they may be referred to as joist.
One difficulty that exists is the tendency of relatively long structural
members
to lose strength and rigidity as their length increases. This is particularly
a
difficulty for relatively long slender members such as wall studs and the
like.
Such wall studs may commonly be subject to buckling failure. Another
difficulty that exists with wall studs is that walls formed by conventional
wall
studs is that such construction techniques may be less resistant to shear
loads than they are to compressive loads. Under such loads, wall studs may
be prone to rotate about their end connections to the top and bottom plate.
The resulting deflection of the entire load above such a wall may contribute
to
an entire building failing or collapsing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed an
apparatus for reinforcing a plurality of adjacent parallel spaced apart wooden
structural members to each other. Each of the structural members extends
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between first and second ends and has first and second edges. The
apparatus comprises a ridged member extending between first and second
ends and having a length sufficient to extend between two adjacent structural
members. The apparatus further comprises a socket at each of the first and
second ends of the rigid member. Each socket has a
central axis
therethrough and is formed of a base panel and first and second side panels.
The socket is adapted to engage with a socket of an adjacent rigid member so
as to interlink successive rigid members across a plurality of structural
members.
The base panel of each socket may be abuttable at against a corresponding
base panel wherein the first and second side panels are engagable with
corresponding first and second side panels of the adjacent socket. The side
panels of the socket may overlap the side panels of the adjacent socket when
the socket is engaged therewith.
The base panel may extend between first and second edges wherein one of
the first or second edges abuts against a corresponding first or second edge
of the adjacent socket. The one of the first or second edge may be angularly
oriented relative to the central axis.
The first and second panels may include fastener bores therethrough adapted
to align with corresponding bores in the first and second panels Of the
adjacent socket. The central axes of the first and second sockets may be
substantially parallel to each other.
The rigid member may extend diagonally between the first and second
sockets, such that the rigid member is angularly oriented relative to the
central
axis of the first and second socket. The first and second side panels may be
co-formed with the base panel. The base panel may be co-formed with the
rigid member. The apparatus may be formed of a material selected from the
group consisting of metal, plastic, wood and composite materials.
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The first and second side panels may include end tabs connectable to
adjacent end tabs of an corresponding socket of an adjacent rigid member.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed
a
kit for reinforcing a plurality of adjacent parallel spaced apart wooden
structural members to each other. Each of the structural members extends
between first and second ends and has first and second edges. The kit
comprises a plurality of apparatuses each comprising a ridged member
extending between first and second ends and having a length sufficient to
extend between two adjacent structural members. Each apparatus further
comprises a socket at each of the first and second ends of the rigid member.
Each socket has a central axis therethrough and is formed of a base panel
and first and second side panels. The socket is adapted to engage with a
socket of an adjacent rigid member so as to interlink successive rigid
members across a plurality of structural members.
Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to
those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description
of
specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying
figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention wherein similar
characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view,
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a plurality of apparatuses according to a
first embodiment of the present invention for reinforcing structural
members located across wall studs.
Figure 2 is a front perspective view of one of the apparatuses of
Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a rear perspective view of one of the apparatuses of
Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a front profile view of two of the apparatuses of Figure 2
applied
to a wall stud.
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the two apparatus of Figure 4
as taken
along the line 5-5.
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Figure 6 is a plan view of a cut sheet for forming the apparatus of
Figure 2.
Figure 7 is a plan view of a cut sheet for forming an apparatus for
reinforcing structural members located across wall studs
according to a further embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 8 is a front profile view of an apparatus for reinforcing structural
members according to a further embodiment of the present
invention.
Figure 9 is a detailed perspective view of one of the sockets of the
apparatus of Figure 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to Figure 1, an apparatus for stabilizing adjacent wall studs 6
according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown generally at 20. The
wall studs 6 may be of any conventional type, such as by way of non-limiting
example dimensioned lumber, engineered studs, composite material studs or
metal studs and extend between top and bottom ends, 8 and 10, respectively.
It will also be appreciated that the present apparatus may be useful for
stabilizing any other type of wall structural member, such as, by way of non-
limiting example, floor joists roof trusses or the like. The wall studs 6 as
illustrated have front and rear surfaces, 12 and 14, respectively, as are
conventionally known.
With reference to Figures 2 and 3, the apparatus 20 comprises a rigid
member 22 extending between first and second ends, 24 and 26,
respectively. The first and second ends have first and second sockets 30 and
50, respectively extending therefrom. As illustrated in Figure 1, the first
and
second sockets are adapted to receive one of the front or rear surfaces 12 or
14 of the wall studs 6 therein. As further illustrated in Figure 1, the first
socket
30 of one apparatus is engagable with a second socket 50 of an adjacent
apparatus so as to be interlocked therewith as will be more fully described
below.
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The rigid member 22 may be formed of any known shape. As illustrated, the
rigid member 22 may be formed of a substantially planar member, although it
will be appreciated that other shapes may be useful as well, such as, by way
of non-limiting example, a tube, a bar, a box section, an I-beam, a c-shaped
channel, an L-shaped channel or a triangular cross section beam. It will also
be appreciated that the rigid member 22 may also include strengthening
flanges or ribs extending therefrom as are commonly known. The rigid
member 22 may be formed of any suitable material, such as, by way of non-
limiting example, metal, plastic, ceramics or the like. It will also be
appreciated that although the apparatus 20 may be formed of bent sheet
metal, it may also be formed by other means such as an extruded, cast or
welded structure.
The first socket 30 is formed of a base panel 32 having first and second side
panels, 34 and 36, respectively extending therefrom. The first and second
side panels 34 and 36 extend substantially perpendicularly from the base
panel 32 so as to form a u-shaped socket along a central axis 42 for receiving
the wall stud 6 therein. It will be appreciated that the width of the base
panel
may be selected to space the first and second side panels apart by a distance
corresponding to the width of the wall stud such as approximately 1.5 inches
(38mm) for use with a conventional 2x4 dimension lumber wall stud, by way of
non-limiting example. Each of the first and second side panels includes
fastener bores 38 and 40, respectively, therethrough sized to receive
fasteners, such as, by way of non-limiting example, screws or nails
therethrough as will be more fully described below.
The base plate comprises a substantially planar member extending between
top and bottom edges, 44 and 46, respectively. As illustrated, the bottom
edge 46 may be substantially perpendicular to the central axis 42 of the
socket while the top edge 44 is angularly oriented relative to the central
axis
42. As illustrated in Figure 6, the top edge may have a top incline angle,
generally indicated at 48 of between 0 and 60 degrees relative to a plane
perpendicular to the central axis. As illustrated, the first side panel 34 may
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have a length selected to extend above and below the top and bottom edges
44 and 46 of the base panel 32 while the second side has a length selected to
extend above the top edge 44 of the base panel 32.
The second socket 50 is formed of a base panel 52 having first and second
side panels, 54 and 56, respectively extending therefrom. The first and
second side panels 54 and 56 extend substantially perpendicularly from the
base panel 52 so as to form a u-shaped socket along a central axis 62 for
receiving the wall stud 6 therein. It will be appreciated that the width of
the
base panel may be selected to space the first and second side panels apart
by a distance corresponding to the width of the wall stud such as
approximately 1.5 inches (38mm) for use with a conventional 2x4 dimension
lumber wall stud, by way of non-limiting example. Each of the first and
second side panels includes fastener bores 58 and 60, respectively,
therethrough sized to receive fasteners, such as, by way of non-limiting
example, screws or nails therethrough. As will be more fully described below
the fastener bores 38, 40, 58 and 60 may be located such that a common
fasteners may be passed through a pair of corresponding bores when
adjacent apparatuses are secured together.
The base panel 52 comprises a substantially planar member extending
between top and bottom edges, 64 and 66, respectively. As illustrated, the
top edge 64 may be substantially perpendicular to the central axis 42 of the
socket while the bottom edge 66 is angularly oriented relative to the central
axis 42. As illustrated in Figure 6, the bottom edge may have a bottom
incline angle, generally indicated at 68 of between 0 and 60 degrees relative
to a plane perpendicular to the central axis. The top and bottom incline
angles 48 and 68 will be selected to correspond to each other such that when
sockets of adjacent apparatuses 20 are located adjacent to each other, they
may be abutted against each other as illustrated in Figures 1 and 4. As
illustrated, the first side panel 34 may have a length selected to extend
above
and below the top and bottom edges 44 and 46 of the base panel 32 while the
second side has a length selected to extend above the top edge 44 of the
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base panel 32. In such a manner, the first and second side plates of such
abutted sockets may be overlapped with each other as will be more fully
described below.
With reference to Figure 4, in operation, a first apparatus 20a may be located
on a wall stud 6 with the front edge 12 of the wall stud received within a
first
socket 30. Thereafter, a second apparatus 20b, may be located on the same
wall stud 6 with front edge 12 of the wall socket being received within the
second socket 50 at a position above the first socket 30 of the first
apparatus
20a. Thereafter, the second apparatus 20b may be moved in a downward
direction so as to engage the bottom edge 66 of the second socket 50 of the
second apparatus 20b against the top edge 44 of the first socket 30 of the
first
apparatus 20a. In such a position, the first and second side panels 54 and 56
of the second socket on the second apparatus will overlap the first and
second side panels 34 and 36 of the first socket of the first apparatus.
Thereafter, fasteners 70 may be passed through corresponding sets of bores
38 and 60 and 58 and 40 as illustrated in Figure 5. Optionally, the sockets 30
and 50 may include barbs, spikes or other suitable projections from an
interior
surface thereof so as to engage the wall stud when the apparatus 20 is
secured thereto.
The rigid member 22 has a length selected to extend between adjacent wall
studs 6. By way of non-limiting example, the rigid member has a length
sufficient to space the central axes 42 and 62 of the first and sockets apart
by
a distance corresponding to the distance between the wall studs. Such
spacing will be dictated by the wall construction type and may therefore be of
any suitable range, such as by way of non-limiting example, 16 inches
(406mm) for 16 inch on center construction walls. It will be appreciated that
other distances may be suitable as well. As illustrated, the rigid member
extends away from each socket so as to form an incline angle, generally
indicated at 72 between the rigid member 22 and the central axes 42 and 62
of the first and second sockets. The incline angle 72 is selected to permit
the
apparatus to extend diagonally between adjacent wall studs and may have an
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angle of between 30 and 60 degrees with an angle of 45 degrees having been
found to be particularly useful.
As illustrated, the base panels 32 and 52 may be formed of a continuation of
the rigid member 22 or may be a separate member secured thereto by
fasteners, adhesives or the like. It will be appreciated that in embodiments
where the base panels are co-formed with the rigid member, that the rigid
member and base panels 32 and 52 will be co-planar with the rigid member
22.
With reference to Figure 6, the apparatus 20 may be cut from a single sheet
of metal, such as, by way of non-limiting example, steel, stainless steel,
aluminium or galvanized steel. The sheet metal may be cut into a blank
according to known methods and thereafter bend into the desired shape as
illustrated and described above. Any thickness of metal as required to
provide the necessary strength may be utilized such as between 12 and 22
gauge. In particular, it has been found that sheet metal of between 16 and 20
gauge has been useful. It will also be appreciated that the apparatus 20- may
also be formed of non-metal materials, such as, by way of non-limiting
example, carbon fibre, fibreglass, plastics, ceramics and composite materials.
It will also be appreciated that although elongate, substantially straight
members are shown, non-straight members may also be utilized, such as, by
way of non-limiting example, arcuate, space frame, plates or any other shape
as long as the sockets 24 and 26 are rigidly translationally fixed relative to
each other so as to securely locate the adjacent structural member relative to
each other.
The sheet metal may be cut into a blank according to known methods and
thereafter bend into the desired shape as illustrated and described above. In
particular, the blank may include a central portion 102 which forms the rigid
member 22, top and bottom portions, 102 and 104, respectively having an
outline sufficient to be bent along bend lines 108 to form the top and bottom
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sockets 30 and 50 as described above. Thereafter, the blank 100 may be
folded along the fold lines 108 to form the desired final apparatus.
With reference to Figure 7, a blank for forming an optional embodiment of the
present invention is illustrated having extension tabs 110 extending from the
second side panels 36 and 56 of the first and second sockets. The extension
tabs 110 may include additional bores 112 therethrough sized to pass
fasteners therethrough as described above. The extension tabs 110 may have
a length sufficient to extend to and engage with a socket applied to a rear
edge 14 of the wall stud when the socket is applied to a front surface of the
wall stud wherein a single fastener may be passed through both bores 112.
Optionally, the extension tab 110 may have a length sufficient to pass around
the rear edge 114 of the wall stud to permit wrapping of the wall stud within
the socket.
Turning now to Figures 8 and 9, an optional embodiment of the present
invention is illustrated generally at 150 having a rigid member 152 with end
sockets 154 at each end thereof. The end sockets are formed of base panels
156 having first and second side panels, 158 and 160, respectively extending
therefrom. The first and second side panels 158 and 160 extend substantially
perpendicularly from the base panel 156 so as to form a u-shaped socket
along a central axis 162 for receiving the wall stud 6 therein. As described
above, the width of the base panel may be selected to space the first and
second side panels apart by a distance corresponding to the width of the wall
stud such as approximately 1.5 inches (38mm) for use with a conventional
2x4 dimension lumber wall stud, by way of non-limiting example. Each of the
first and second side panels includes fastener bores 164 and 166,
respectively, therethrough sized to receive fasteners, such as, by way of non-
limiting example, screws or nails therethrough as will be more fully described
below. The base panel -156 may also optionally include a fastener bore 168
therethrough.
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Each of the first and second side panels 158 and 160 includes an end tab,
170 and 172, respectively extending therefrom away from the central axis 162
of the socket 154. Each end tab 170 and 172 includes a connection bore, 174
and 176 therethrough. The apparatuses 150 as illustrated in Figures 8 and 9
may be applied to the wall studs 6 such that a socket of one apparatus is
adjacent to and abuts against a corresponding socket of an adjacent
apparatus wherein the end tabs 170 and 172 of the sockets will abut against
each other. Thereafter fasteners, such as, bolts screws and the like may be
passed through the connection bores 174 and 176 so as to secure the
sockets 154 to each other.
While specific embodiments of the invention have been described and
illustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative of the
invention only and not as limiting the invention as construed in accordance
with the accompanying claims.
